Notched Tape Head Closure for Lower Friction and Contact Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tape heads in tape drive systems experience friction and high contact force during operation, leading to tape damage and reduced lifetime, which affects data readability and writability.
Innovation Solution
The tape head module design includes a substrate with data heads and a closure featuring recessed side portions and a central portion with notches or steps to minimize tape contact, reducing friction and contact force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tape contacts the tape head module during operation, then data reading and writing functions are achieved, but friction and contact force damage the tape, reducing its lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is divided into multiple portions (first side portion, second side portion, and central portion) with different heights relative to the media facing surface. The side portions are recessed while the central portion extends higher, creating segmented contact zones that reduce overall contact force and friction on the tape during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the closure are designed with different heights and contact characteristics. The side portions are recessed from the media facing surface to minimize contact, while the central portion maintains a specific height for optimal data operations. This local differentiation reduces harmful friction and contact force while preserving necessary data functions.
2Productivity
If the tape contacts the tape head module during operation, then data operations are performed, but the contact force damages the tape, making data un-readable and unwritable
Solution Approach 1:
The closure structure is segmented into multiple height levels, with the side portions recessed from the media facing surface and the central portion extending higher. This segmentation allows the tape to maintain contact for data operations in the central region while reducing contact force in the side regions, preventing tape damage and maintaining functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure exhibits local quality variations where different portions have different heights and contact characteristics. The recessed side portions minimize harmful contact, while the central portion maintains appropriate contact for data reading and writing, thus preserving tape functionality without causing damage.
3Ease of manufacture
If the closure has a flat surface at the media facing surface, then manufacturing is simple, but the tape experiences high contact force and friction
Solution Approach 1:
The closure surface is segmented into different height levels rather than being completely flat. The side portions are recessed from the media facing surface while the central portion extends higher, creating a multi-level structure that reduces contact force and friction on the tape during operation while remaining manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure incorporates local quality variations with different surface heights at different locations. The recessed side portions and elevated central portion create optimized contact characteristics that reduce harmful friction and contact force while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard fabrication processes.
Data Source
AI summary
In a tape drive comprising a tape head module, a tape contacts the tape head module during operation. The tape head module comprises a substrate, a plurality of data heads disposed adjacent to the substrate at a media facing surface (MFS), and a closure disposed adjacent to the plurality of data heads. The closure comprises a first side portion disposed at a leading edge, a second side portion disposed at the leading edge, the first and second side portions being recessed from the MFS, and a central portion disposed between the first and second side portions at the leading edge. In some embodiments, the central portion is recessed from the MFS. The central portion may comprise a notch, a taper, or one or more steps. The first and second side portions may be tapered, rounded, or comprise one or more steps to reduce contact of a tape during operation.